Four Arrested for Giving Midstate Inmates Contraband | Crime

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Georgia prison officials say four people were arrested last week for sneaking contraband into three central Georgia prisons, according to a news release.

One is a correctional officer and another a volunteer at the prison. The others were visiting an inmate.

Officer Byron Mcrae, an employee at Telfair State Prison, was arrested June 25 after an inmate was found with 12 bundles of tobacco wrapped in electrical tape. An investigation led back to Mcrae who was charged with violation of oath of office and trading with an inmate.

At Dooly State Prison in Unadilla, sheriff's deputies arrested Dianne McDowell, a prison volunteer, on June 26 for allegedly using soap to smuggle in 13 cell phones with 13 phone chargers and 13 batteries. Officials said she was caught with three packs of rolling paper. She tried hiding the contraband in donated items she was taking into the prison.

Maranzy Thomas and Tiyon Combs were arrested on June 29 at Johnson State Prison after an inmate they were visiting was found with contraband under his shirt. Officials confiscated 20 single cigarettes, two CDs and about an ounce of weed hidden in a potato chip bag.

A total of more than 700 people have been arrested, according to the Georgia Department of Corrections, for trying to take contraband into state prison facilities.